2018 Candidate Filing Week is May 14 - 18

2018 Election Guide for Candidates is a must read if you are planning to run for office or are responsible for a campaign. Learn about filing for office, submitting a voters' pamphlet statement, residency requirements, and much more.

Pay filing fee online with Visa or MasterCard or pay by cash or check. Your name will not appear on any official list as a candidate for office until your filing is approved and your filing fee is paid.

Provide an email address.

Use a campaign mailing address, phone number, and website address when you file for office. If you don't, your voter registration address will be published online in the list of candidates who have filed.

The following offices file online with Pierce County Elections:
(Link will be available here during filing week.)

Voters' pamphlet information will only be accepted through the online submittal process.

Submit your voters' pamphlet information online when you file for office or if you choose to submit later, you will receive an email with a link for submitting your photo and statement online by Friday, May 25 at 4:30 p.m. PC or laptop use recommended.

The voters' pamphlet information you submit will be used both for the Primary Election and if you advance to the General Election. Late submissions will not be accepted.

Please prepare the following in advance:

1. Biography - Word limit - 100The biographical information must be 100 words or less allocated between four subsection headings.

Biographical information should be organized in accordance with the four subsection headings listed below. Subsection headings are not included in the word count.

Elected Experience. (Judges use Legal/Judicial Experience)

Other Professional Experience.

Education.

Community Service.

When a candidate doesn’t submit information for a particular subsection heading, “No information submitted” will appear in that subsection area.

2. Statement The word limit for candidate statements is as follows:

State Senator – 200 words (4 paragraphs allowed)

State Representative – 100 words (2 paragraphs allowed)

County offices – 200 words (4 paragraphs allowed)

Judicial offices – 200 words (4 paragraphs allowed)

All other local offices – 200 words (4 paragraphs allowed)

Each part of a hyphenated or slashed word will be counted as a separate word. (Example - "Around-the-corner" = 3 words)

3. Photos

You may submit one portrait photo. (Head and shoulders)

Photos must be high resolution and no smaller than 2.5 x 3 inches. Less than 1 MB in size. (If larger, photo will take too long to load for the online guide.) Image size correction will not be made by Pierce County Elections.

Clothing or insignia that suggest holding a public office are not allowed (e.g., judicial robes, law enforcement or military uniforms).

Color or black and white photo. (Color will be used in the online guide, and converted to black and white for the printed Local Voters' Pamphlet.)

Candidate photos from previous Local Voters’ Pamphlets are not available for reuse. Candidate must submit a new photo online.